[S Clark]

Your choice of high powered amps will be rewarded.  Line Source speakers, even if efficient, require lots of power to control them.  Mine seem to be happy somewhere in the 150-200 wpc range.  I had several conversation with the late Gary Dodd about line source speakers and amplifiers. He had a pair like yours, and he loved them. 

[mkrawcz]

Definitely curious how the SIT5s will sound with these. 

[jmimac351]

The cabinets look gorgeous. These should be a blast both to assemble and listen to.

Enjoy,
Jay

I hope they turn out as nice as everything you've hand built and done.  Your equipment looks like OEM... incredible.

[jmimac351]

Those look absolutely bonkers bananas, amazing!

It could be argued they are a barn find. 

[jmimac351]

These look amazing.  I have always wanted to build a massive pair of line array speakers. But I just don’t have the room to put them in yet.  Once I get all of the kids through college and out of the house, I will be afforded more space for a dedicated two channel listening room.  Can’t wait to hear listening impressions.

It is time for me to play... if you know what I mean. 

[jmimac351]

Your choice of high powered amps will be rewarded.  Line Source speakers, even if efficient, require lots of power to control them.  Mine seem to be happy somewhere in the 150-200 wpc range.  I had several conversation with the late Gary Dodd about line source speakers and amplifiers. He had a pair like yours, and he loved them.

That is really something!  The way they came about is like they fell into my lap.  A friend floated the idea of trading his XA200.5 for my Ayre MX-R Twenty monos.  I knew I needed to / have been wanting to sample some good Pass stuff.  And there was an XA30.8 locally on FB.  I bought it, loved it, and immediately agreed to do the trade.  VERY happy I did; however, my Ayre gear still runs the show...

The issue (for me), is a strong preference for mosfet and now VFET amps.  And, I would like to own an Ayre V-1xe someday for exactly that reason... "back to the Future".

Definitely curious how the SIT5s will sound with these.

When I press Play on that... it will be with great hope, and I am not kidding.  Those SIT-5 amps are absolutely incredible.  Nelson is going down a VFET wormhole and those Tokin SITs... he is really onto something.

[jmimac351]

When crossovers go inside boxes, sometimes the better stuff won't fit.

My crossovers will be external and probably fairly big... especially when I figure out how to squash this little bug.   

I am working on that now... have Sonicaps on the tweeter network... but Sonicap doesn't make...

Caps ain't easy.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Stuff Needed:  100uF, etc. poly caps that can make a 500uF bundle, and bypass with a 56uF.
Timeline: I'm 54... need before I am 60.
Willing to Trade:  I have some old brake pads and a bunch of Amazon Prime boxes. 

Cap OEMs want you to buy a minimum when they don't have it in stock... "because they don't sell"... or is that because they don't exist?

Where is that chicken and egg?

Anybody got any ideas?  I've got a couple ideas...

[HAL]

Putting the crossovers external to the cabinet removes the components from the internal vibration environment. 

Also makes it easier to biamp the system later for trials. 

[Tyson]

For the 500uf bundle I'd probably string together 10 of these - https://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/duelund/50uf-250vdc-duelund-cast-pp-polypropylene-capacitors.html

For the 56uF I'd probably bundle 3 of 10uF's and a pair of 8uF's.  I 'think' they should be close enough in value to not cause any phase issues, but double check with Danny.

[corndog71]

3 x 18uF gets you 54uF which might be close enough.

[jmimac351]

Thanks fellas. 

Danny has some 100uF JB JFX that are a good cap.  The 56uF cap is an important to sound quality.  The big bundle spot not so much, but I am still going to get rid of the electrolytic - because it is the decent thing to do... C'mon - it's worth it.  Buy it once.

Bottom line, I am fairly certain I have found the solution - this morning.

Tyson, I was looking at doing "all Duelund"... because it seems to sound good and "cool" for external crossover "oh cool look at all the Duelund".  JDM-PP on the big bundle in 100uF, then CAST-PP on the 56uF (and maybe even try some CAST-PP on the tweeter vs Sonicap... or just compare). 

It's been interesting. I have reached out about 3 major brands.  Unfortunately(or is it?) the stuff from Denmark is not gonna work out for the time being.  I may keep working on it as I would like to use Duelund.   

On the other hand... another vendor was EXCITED to help out... and provided some VERY thoughtful feedback and even a creative way to do custom values for the big bundle, and they are HAPPY TO DO IT.  I... I... almost felt like a "customer" and that they "wanted to earn my business" - instead of it sort of feeling like they would be "doing me a favor to sell you our product, if you buy 250".

I am working with that enthusiastic vendor on something else that would be very cool, but for one thing or another, they are going to get my business.   

If it works out and you see how it will match for both Sonicap AND "Copper Foil"... and getting the bigger sizes that are needed, I think it makes a lot of sense.   

When it gets sorted out, I'll get it sorted out. 

Resistors will be PATH doubled up for extra power handling.  4x Path resistors... "why are big, great speakers so expensive?..."

[jmimac351]

It's worth noting this other vendor, when I reached out to them and explained what I was trying to do and the trouble I was having in getting more ideal uF values, he responded saying:

"Our primary focus is the Hi-Fi audio industry so we know how important it is to help enthusiasts and OEM’s during project development. It’s what we do all day, every day."

Easy to do business with.  Made in the USA.

[VinceT]

How come I never heard of these?

Love my LS9's. It would be hard to go back to a small tower or book shelf.

[jmimac351]

How come I never heard of these?

Love my LS9's. It would be hard to go back to a small tower or book shelf.

I read this and made a phone call.

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=190925.msg1997876#msg1997876

[VinceT]

That is fantastic, welcome to the line array club.

[jmimac351]

That is fantastic, welcome to the line array club.

Thank you.  I have got my work cut out for me. Making progress figuring a few things out. 

Everyone is an expert, including customers. 

[jmimac351]

I have had some interesting interactions with "cap people"... and one Owner even reached out - unsolicited.  Very nice. 

My research has uncovered 2 Universal Truths regarding caps... so don't even bother grinding over, researching,  memorizing the Humble Homemade Hifi ranking list, etc. 

Here is what I have learned:

Universal Cap Truth #1) Whoever you're talking to makes the best caps.

Universal Cap Truth #2) Everyone else's caps suck.

However... one of them is Right.

I kid (a little) not much in terms of critical comments of the competition, but they are all very proud of their stuff, and they all have a different story.

[VinceT]

Mine have the stock AV123 parts and could use an upgrade when time and funds permit.

Others would be better to ask, I can tell you I have sonicap platnums in my Encores and couldn't be happier, but took a while to really break in. I know Miflex are very popular around here.

FWIW my LS9's (in my room) if I had to nitpick, could be a little warmer in the mids for my taste being they cross over around 900hz from the planar tweeters. Highs can be a little tipped upward with some recordings. When I do my X-over that is something I will take into consideration, but would have no hesitations going with sonicaps platnums again.

More power the better, your pass monos will make these sing!

[goggle1824]

Vince, you 100% should be able to “voice” your LS9s via your crossover components. I haven't heard those but have enough knowledge to know there is resolution in those drivers that can come out further via the cross-over components. That’s one of the many upsides of Danny’s designs, they can to go even higher levels with some tweaks.

The other good news is if you are working from an AV123 crossover there is a high likely-hood there is at least one piece of “low hanging fruit” in that design and components that should get you to the next level of performance. So when you are ready to move forward on your crossovers, know that the “voicing” can MOST LIKELY be tweaked to your individual preferences. 👏🏼👍🏼👊🏼

[jmimac351]

I think I am going to end up with 2 examples of the crossover for this speaker. 

Starter
Tweeter
Likely have the Sonicaps from Danny and I'll bypass with Duelund .1uF CAST-PIO copper foil on each Sonicap in the tweeter network. Alternatively, could very easily have Duelund CAST-PP.  I still own a pair of 15uF in CAST-PP, and need 2x 6.8uF - readily available.    I know of no other Poly caps worth playing with given how good the Sonicap is with CAST-PIO bypass, and the Duelund is Duelund... I can't go wrong either way.

Woofer
I am working on custom values in 3x 185uF which will eliminate the 500uF electrolytic and the 56uF bypass.  AND, I can also get a 56uF from this same US vendor.  These caps should be a VERY suitable match for Sonicap, in particular.  We will see how this works out, and I really hope it does.

Inductors
I will set aside the copper foil Danny sent me and use air core inductors with the Sonicap / Duelund Poly setup.  That will offer GREAT sound, no doubt. 

Long Term Crossover
Full of CAST-PIO 100v copper foil, or Jupiter 100v Cooper foil. Goertz copper foil inductors from Danny.  Path Resistors.  Duelund CAST-PIO copper or Jupiter Vitamin Q silver bypass. Attempt sort brand of copper foil on the 56uF value on woofers.  Likely KEEP the custom titles of 185uF caps. 

Right now, that's the plan and I hope to get some things rolling on the big caps this week.

So, since I need some air core inductors, it was long past time I figure out how much junk I have...Woah Daddy... what the... how did this happen??? 

Well, I guess I got it bad. 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE...